Himalaya Airlines has paid NRs. 1 crore of the service charge to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The airline paid the amount through cheque after receiving notice from TIA to take legal action as the carrier continuously failed to pay dues.
Raj Kumar Chhetri, General Manager of TIA stated that the carrier asked the ultimatum till upcoming Sunday (February 24) but sent cheque of NRs. 1 crore on February 20 (yesterday).
In the press release, it has mentioned that Salam Air will lease one Airbus A320 aircraft of Himalaya Airlines for 3 months and Himayala Airlines will pay pending dues through the received amount from Salam Air.
General Manager Chhetri said that the airport office offered some ease for Himalaya Airlines as it is Nepali airline company but after the carrier did not show any concern in paying dues and the dues kept on increasing, the airport official has demanded to clear dues at any cost now.
Now, Himalaya Airlines has left to pay NRs. 19 crore to the airport office. All international and national airline companies should pay development fee, operation fee, parking fee, security fee, room counter fee to TIA.
According to the Airport Service Charge Regulation 2067, the responsibility of collecting airport service charge goes to the chief of the airport who has to submit statement to head office every month. Likewise, those who fail to dispatch airport service charge within 60 days from the generation of bill then the airport chief can halt their business whereas in case of airline operators, the flight will be restricted.
In addition, the authority can blacklist the business and airline operators if they fail to pay the airport service charge and act beyond the rules, regulations and agreement of the authority. In such case, the business and airline operators will be restricted to run any businesses at the airport.
Previously, the carrier asked 10 days for clearing of pending dues of TIA. Airline asked for a month after failing to clear dues in 10 days.
The government demanded Himalaya Airlines to clear pending dues immediately when the carrier fails to pay again.
Himalaya Airlines was founded in 2014 as a joint venture between Yeti World Investment and Tibet Airlines.
Previously, Himalaya Airlines entered into to the China market with the maiden flight to its latest destination, Chongqing, a major tourist city of the People’s Republic of China on October of 2018.
The airline is operating the flight once a week. Himalaya is the only airline operating direct flights between the two cities.
